The 2020 MLB season brought plenty of firsts in a season full of crazy compromises, radical rule changes, regional realignment and other measures to ensure an MLB season was played at all.
However, perhaps no change was more notable to baseball fans than the adoption of a universal designated hitter. Since 1973, half of MLB teams had their pitcher take their turn in the order. The other half of MLB teams did not.
And if you’re taking time from your day to read an online baseball blog, it’s probably safe to say this divide had just been a fact of life for you.
Barring interleague play or a lucky trip to the World Series, every National League fan reading this had grown accustomed to watching their pitcher bat. Likewise, every American League fan had not.
Of course, the difference between the two MLB circuits as a result isn’t anywhere near that simple.
MLB has had different play for different rules
Style (and yes, perhaps pace) of play differ dramatically. When to pinch-hit or pinch-run, the need for double-switches, bullpen management — all of these seemed to loom larger in NL games. And along with game management, roster construction differed as well. Half of the teams in MLB could afford to have a player on their roster that they never intended to allow to play the field.
Certainly NL clubs might have a player that could be said to meet that description, but only as a pinch-hitting specialist. That included players like Lenny Harris, the all-time pinch hit leader in MLB history. In contrast, many AL DHs are elite hitters. They are household names and focal points of the offense (and the payroll), players like David Ortiz, Nelson Cruz or Yordan Alvarez.
Recent years though had seen increased resistance from fans and MLB alike. This was largely tied to pitcher health and declining production at the plate, with a sprinkling of pace-of-play angst. Outcry would spike every time a big-name starter got hit in the arm and die down every time Clayton Kershaw or Madison Bumgarner cracked a homer.
Ultimately though, the only thing that seemed as constant in MLB as the existence of the AL-only DH rule was arguing about it.
Until 2020, when the universal DH rule was ushered into effect.
Overnight, the NL style of play for more than a century was gone. Gone — and very likely gone for good based on all reports at the time. Detractors were thrilled, defenders were disappointed and the time for debating was over.
Then came Monday’s news that the MLBPA had rejected the latest offer that would codify the universal DH as the law of the MLB landscape going forward.
Suddenly, the old rules are back for one more year. Absolutely, that could change between now and Opening Day. Unquestionably, the universal DH is coming soon — that Lenny Harris record mentioned above is probably the safest record in Cooperstown.
As of right now though, it really looks like fans of the NL approach could get one more season to say goodbye to the style of play they grew up with. Like a retiring player, consider the 2021 campaign a farewell tour for pitchers hitting.
So for this MLB season, if the DH stays AL only as it is now, I invite fans and critics alike to really savor the split this year. Soak up every pinch hit, every double switch, every bit of gamesmanship within the game. Because when it goes next time, it’s going for good.